(2018-10-18). Small Donors Suddenly Pour In to Flip Eight State-Level Seats — and Legislatures. theintercept.com Data for Progress, a left-wing think tank, is raising money for eight candidates whose races could lead to Democratic control of their legislatures.
(2018-10-18). Syria: One Year Since the Battle for Raqqa and the US and UK Refuse to Accept Responsibility for Civilian Deaths. globalresearch.ca A year ago the US led Coalition played a leading role in the battle for the Syrian city of Raqqa. Coalition forces carried out thousands of air and artillery strikes upon the city that left hundreds dead and helped destroy …
(2018-10-18). The Upcoming Putin-Netanyahu Summit Will Seek To Strike A Balance In Syria. iranian.com Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will see each other during an upcoming summit, which will be their first meeting since last month's tragedy The Israeli premier said that he spoke to President Putin on 7 October, which just so happened to be the Russian leader's birthday, and announced that they'll meet face-to-face […]
(2018-10-18). 'Go kill yourself!' GOP candidates face attacks as Dems urge end to civility ahead of midterms. rt.com 
Two Minnesota GOP candidates and a Nevada GOP campaign manager were attacked in separate incidents over the last week as some Democratic leaders call for an end to civility in the run-up to the 2018 elections.
(2018-10-18). Leading US House Democrat demands that Ecuador's president "hand over" Julian Assange. wsws.org The letter effectively confirms that if the WikiLeaks founder is forced to leave Ecuador's embassy, on whatever pretext, the British government will deliver him into the hands of the US.
(2018-10-18). Socialist Equality Party Congressional candidate Niles Niemuth visits Detroit hotel workers' picket line. wsws.org Workers on strike at the Westin Book Cadillac hotel in Detroit spoke with the SEP's candidate for Michigan's 12th congressional district Wednesday about their struggle and the broader issues facing working people.
(2018-10-18). Teamsters for a Democratic Union to UPS workers: "Whatever you do, don't fight!" wsws.org If the Teamsters leadership has so far been able to suppress opposition to its defiance of workers' "no" vote, it is thanks only to its loyal opposition in the TDU.
(2018-10-18). OSHA Investigator/Lawyer Darrell Whitman, OSC, Culture Of Corruption, GAP & The Democrats. indybay.org Federal OSHA Whistleblower Protection Program investigator and lawyer Darrell Whitman discusses his effort to defend fellow workers at OSHA WPP. He also discusses the systemic effort to cover-up the retaliation of OSHA whistleblowers from companies like FedEx, Wells Fargo, PG&E, Test American and Lockheed Martin. He reports that he went to many politicians including Diane Feinstein and Congresswoman Barbara Lee about these conditions not only at OSHA about violations of civil rights including the murder of Alan Blueford. He learned that not only were OSHA officials and the Department of Labor DOL Secretary Tom Pe…
(2018-10-18). Bay area hotel workers determined to fight as union, Democrats try to derail strike. indybay.org While isolating the striking workers, the UNITE HERE union has given the Democratic Party a platform to posture as their saviors and hustle for workers' votes in the run up to the November 6 election.
(2018-10-18). DSA covers for unions and Democrats in new book on walkout by West Virginia teachers. wsws.org A new book promoted by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is centered on the lie that the West Virginia teachers' strike, which set off the series of strikes nationally last spring, was a "victory" in which the unions played a heroic role.
(2018-10-18). Florida gubernatorial election: Suddenly "socialism" becomes the issue. wsws.org Democrat Andrew Gillum is being falsely portrayed as a progressive, left-wing candidate by both his supporters and his Republican opponent.
(2018-10-18). UCU recall conference seeks to silence opposition to sell-out of UK lecturers' strike. wsws.org Anyone believing that today's recall will provide an opportunity to discuss the betrayal underestimates the contempt of the union apparatus for democratic debate.
(2018-10-18). 100th Anniversary of Armistice Day — Ring a Bell for Peace! indybay.org City Hall Plaza | Corner of Fourth & Santa Clara Streets | San Jose , CA 95112…
(2018-10-18). Record flood of cash to buy US midterm elections. wsws.org The sheer scale of the fundraising and spending demonstrates the profoundly anti-democratic character of the American political system.
(2018-10-17). Press Release by Joint Operation Room of the Palestinian Resistance Factions on Israeli Attacks on Gaza. imemc.org On the heels of the Israeli arbitrary bombardment on the Gaza Strip, this morning, the Joint Operation Room of the Palestinian Factions state the following, Al Ray Palestinian Media Agency has reported: The Palestinian people have been involved in their peaceful battle against the Israeli occupation through the Great Return […]…
(2018-10-17). Green Tsunami in Bavaria? counterpunch.org It's been an unusually hot summer and fall in Bavaria this year. Politically, it got even hotter this Sunday night when Bavaria's Green party became the second strongest party in the region. Their stunning success was at the same time a dire warning for other left leaning parties such as the SPD and Die Linke. More
(2018-10-17). Corporate lawyer lands top spot in DOJ's Civil Rights Division. peoplesworld.org 
A corporate lawyer with a questionable track record on discrimination lawsuits as head of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division…what could be wrong with that? Apparently nothing. Well, at least for the U.S. Senate who confirmed Eric Dreiband 50-47 Thursday, October 12, split down party lines. Drei…
(2018-10-17). This GOP Congressman Just Endorsed an Unapologetic White Nationalist Candidate For Toronto Mayor. alternet.org 
Rep. Steve King once again showed his colors as the most racist member of Congress. | On Tuesday evening, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) caused a stir when he endorsed Faith Goldy for Mayor of Toronto: Faith Goldy, an excellent candidate for Toronto mayor, pro Rule of Law, pro Make Canada Safe. . .
(2018-10-17). Here's Why Ohio Might Be Slipping Away from Republicans. alternet.org 
Ohio backed Trump by a generous margin in 2016. Now Republicans are suddenly on the defensive there. | One of the undercovered phenomena of the 2018 election cycle is how the Rust Belt states, which unexpectedly broke for Donald Trump in 2016, have swung sharply in the other direction and seem poised to give Democrats victories — and possibly gains — this year. This is on full display in Ohio, where Trump won by (2018-10-17). Bombshell Report Details Rick Scott's Massive Conflicts of Interest: His 'Blind Trust' Isn't Really Blind. alternet.org 
Rick Scott has put his investments into a "blind trust" to avoid the appearance that he's using his office for financial gain. But that blind trust has loopholes. | As reporters have uncovered a steady stream of ethically questionable investment holdings by Florida governor and GOP Senate candidate Rick Scott that appear to have been affected by decisions made by the state government, he has stuck to a singular refrain: there is no conflict of inte. . .
(2018-10-17). Texas Candidate's Radical Approach to Turning Out Asian-American Non-Voters: Talking to Them (in 13 Different Languages). theintercept.com 
Sri Kulkarni, a 40-year-old Democrat, is facing incumbent Rep. Pete Olson in November, armed with a multilingual, multigenerational, multicultural battery of dedicated volunteers.
(2018-10-17). GOP Senator Pushed VA to Use Unproven 'Brainwave Frequency' Treatment Marketed by a Company with Ties to His Office. alternet.org 
The Trump administration has welcomed experimental procedures for veterans' mental health, even though doctors urge caution. | Sen. Dean Heller, a Nevada Republican, pushed doctors at the Veterans Affairs medical center in Reno to adopt an experimental mental health treatment marketed by a company with ties to his office. On a Friday night last December in his Reno office, Heller, a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced VA officials to representative. . .
(2018-10-17). Here's How Activists Raised a Stunning $100,000 in 70 Minutes to Defeat Native American Voter Suppression in North Dakota. alternet.org 
Daily Kos set up a donation page to fund the effort to help Native American voters update their tribal IDs to vote. | Democrats' most vulnerable Senate seat up for re-election this year, by far, is Sen. Heidi Heitkamp's seat in North Dakota, who faces a challenge from GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer. And a new GOP voter suppression law targeted at the state's Native Americans. . .
(2018-10-17). Syria Moves One Step Closer to Ending the Civil War. thenation.com Syria Moves One Step Closer to Ending the Civil War…
(2018-10-17). Trump's New Plan To Drive Iran Out Of Syria. iranian.com The Trump administration is said to be developing a new strategy to focus more heavily on pushing Iran's military and its proxy forces out of Syria. According to an NBC News report, five people familiar with the new plan said that it will further increase of political, economic and diplomatic efforts to force Iran out of […]
(2018-10-17). Colombian Lawyer Diego Martinez Needs Solidarity Now. counterpunch.org More than two years after the signing of a peace agreement between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government, lawyer Diego Martínez is under attack. In a recent open letter to Colombia's attorney general, he protested against possible legal action against him and surveillance of his movements. He reported threats of More
(2018-10-17). The Republicans' Long, Negative Campaign. progressive.org Among a slew of attacks on voters, the GOP's longstanding effort to simply turn them off remains among the most effective.
(2018-10-17). The Upcoming Putin-Netanyahu Summit Will Seek to Strike a Balance in Syria. globalresearch.ca Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will see each other during an upcoming summit, which will be their first meeting since last month's tragedy. | The Israeli premier said that he spoke to President Putin on 7 …
(2018-10-17). Republicans Are Coming for Your Social Security and Medicare. alternet.org 
The warning signs are already here. | The billionaire fascists are coming for your Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. And they're openly bragging about it. Right after Trump's election, back in December of 2016, Newt Gingrich openly bragged at the Heritage Foundation that the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress were going to "break out of the Frankli. . .
(2018-10-17). Rep. Lloyd Smucker Crusades Against the Federal Agency Investigating His Own Family's Drywall Business. theintercept.com Smucker's family company racked up at least seven OSHA violations for worker safety. Now, he's trying to roll back worker protections in Congress.
(2018-10-17). Amid furor over Khashoggi murder, UN warns millions more face starvation in Yemen. wsws.org While leading Democrats and Republicans have called for sanctions over the Saudi journalist's killing, Washington has maintained a discreet silence over the US-backed mass murder in Yemen.
(2018-10-17). Flint Legionnaires' Disease Survivors Speak Out: "Every Day Is a Challenge" truthout.org Jassmine McBride's mother calls her "a miracle." | The 30-year-old woman is among the 90 or so residents of Flint, Michigan, who survived Legionnaires' disease, a potentially deadly lung infection. And while the news focused mainly on the ones who died, families like the McBrides now feel lost and forgotten. | Forgotten is how many residents said they feel four-and-a-half years after Flint's lead-tainted water crisis began, and six months after Republican Gov. Rick Snyder declared the…
(2018-10-17). In Unusual Move, Republican Party Begins to Pull Money From Incumbent Races. truthout.org It's less than a month until the midterm elections and major Republican campaign funders are performing financial triage on certain congressional races. | Two major sources of conservative support, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), have started to pull advertising funding for Republican candidates who seem to have a slim chance of winning their competitive races. | "This is crunch time, obviously," said Dr. Steven Billet, a professor at American University who specializes in campaign finance. "If it looks like someone is not going to pull through,…
(2018-10-17). Georgia's First Black Gubernatorial Nominee Faces Massive Voter Suppression. truthout.org With the midterm elections just three weeks away, voting rights advocates are accusing Republican officials in several states of orchestrating a campaign of voter suppression targeting people of color. In Georgia, the Democratic candidate for governor, Stacey Abrams, is calling on her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp, to step down as secretary of state for placing 53,000 voter applications on hold. Seventy percent of the applicants are African-American. Abrams has accused Kemp of using the state's "exact match" system to disenfranchise voters. With exact match, even a minor discrepancy in a voter's registration…
(2018-10-17). Age is 'legitimate' question if Biden runs in 2020, but why are US politicians so old? rt.com 
Former Vice President Joe Biden said it would be "totally legitimate" if voters questioned his advanced age if he decided to run for president again in 2020, admitting he was at least "chronologically" old. He's not the only one.
(2018-10-17). Bay area hotel workers determined to fight as union, Democrats try to derail strike. wsws.org "Nobody can afford rising health costs and still make ends meet on our pay."
(2018-10-16). Ari Berman: Republicans in North Dakota Are Attempting to Disenfranchise Thousands of Native Voters. democracynow.org 
The Supreme Court has ruled it will allow the state of North Dakota to enforce a new voter ID requirement that will make it harder for Native Americans to vote during the midterm elections. The state's new voter ID law requires voters to show identification demonstrating a residential street address, but this has already rendered many tribal IDs invalid, since many Native Americans who live on reservations depend on post office boxes to receive mail. The law could make a difference in the close race between Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp and her Republican challenger Kevin Cramer. The race is expected to help…
(2018-10-16). Real reform in Brooklyn's Democratic Party a daunting task. peoplesworld.org 
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(2018-10-16). Unsolicited Advice for an Undeclared Presidential Candidate: a Letter to Elizabeth Warren. counterpunch.org 
Senator Elizabeth Warren 317 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. Dear Senator Warren: As a constituent, I have noted with interest your suggestion that you will "take a hard look" at running for president in 2020, even as you campaign for reelection to the Senate next month. Forgive me for saying that I interpret that More
(2018-10-16). The Brazilian Presidential Elections and "The Rules of The Game" counterpunch.org The Pre- and Post-Game of the Brazilian Presidential Elections: An Introduction to Dunker's "The Rules of the Game" By Peter Lehman Amidst a polarized electorate, growing disillusionment with democratic politics, and thirteen candidates running for President, the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro emerged the initial winner of last week's presidential election in Brazil. Bolsonaro, an ex-army More
(2018-10-16). A Super PAC Is Spending Millions Attacking Democrats Who Can't Lose. What's Going On? theintercept.com The political action committee's odd spending decisions are a window into the absurd campaign finance world ushered into existence by Citizens United.
(2018-10-16). How Beto O'Rourke Raised a Stunning $38 Million in Just Three Months. theintercept.com 
Calling Beto O'Rourke's $38 million dollar fundraising quarter a "record" doesn't quite do that total justice: O'Rourke, who is challenging Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, raised 30 percent more from July to October of this year than Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown has raised in all six years of his re-election campaign, and more than Jeb Bush raised for the entirety of his 2016 presidential run. | Within hours of O'Rourke's campaign announcing his fundraising totals, anonymous Democratic operatives complained to the New York…
(2018-10-16). Diplomatic Deadlock: Can U.S.-North Korea Diplomacy Survive Maximum Pressure? counterpunch.org 
South Korean President Moon Jae-in's meeting with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un on September 18-20 culminated in the signing of the Pyongyang Declaration, which marked a significant advance towards peace and heralded a welcome warming in relations. Since that time, however, contradictions within the Trump administration's North Korea policy threaten to forestall further progress and More
(2018-10-16). Fifty Years of Mexican October. counterpunch.org 
In understanding contemporary Mexican politics and society, the careful observer might well draw a line before and after October 2, 1968. That was the day when Mexican soldiers killed, wounded and detained hundreds of students and civilians who had peacefully assembled in the Tlatelolco section of Mexico City to demand a more democratic government and More
(2018-10-16). Stacey Abrams Runs to Become Georgia's First Black Governor as Her Opponent Suppresses the Vote. democracynow.org 
With the midterm elections just three weeks away, voting rights advocates are accusing Republican officials in several states of orchestrating a campaign of voter suppression targeting people of color. In Georgia, the Democratic candidate for governor, Stacey Abrams, is calling on her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp, to step down as secretary of state for placing 53,000 voter applications on hold. Seventy percent of the applicants are African-American. Abrams has accused Kemp of using the state's "exact match" system to disenfranchise voters. With exact match, even a minor discrepancy in a voter's registration an…
(2018-10-16). Outraged Lawmakers Want to End the U.S.'s Cozy Relationship With Saudi Arabia. theintercept.com 
In Congress, Rep. Jim McGovern on Tuesday introduced a bill threatening to sever the U.S.-Saudi security relationship over Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance.
(2018-10-16). Headlines for October 16, 2018. democracynow.org Saudi Officials to Offer New Narrative on Khashoggi Disappearance, Trump Floats "Rogue Killers" Narrative of Khashoggi Disappearance, President Trump Tours Areas Ravaged by Hurricane Michael, Florida Evacuates 4,000 from Hurricane-Damaged Prisons, Georgia County Rejects Nearly 1 in 10 Mail-In Ballots, BuzzFeed: UAE Used U.S. Mercenaries to Kill Yemeni Politicians, Syrian Rebels Refuse to Surrender Idlib Buffer Zone, Burmese Military Led Social Media Hate Campaign Against Rohingya, Nigeria: Boko Haram Kills 2nd Captive Aid Worker, Honduran Caravan of 1,600 Migrants Makes Way to U.S. Border, France: Worst Storm in…
(2018-10-16). Economic Update: The Immigration Issue and Capitalism. therealnews.com 
This week: Updates on UK's Liberal Democrats advocating serious reduction of wealth and income inequality; Sears CEO blames pensions for Sears' problems; JP Morgan predicts next financial collapse in 2020; failure to deal with opioid crisis; G-20 meeting in Argentina evades real issues; Europeans clash with U.S. over trade with Iran; and a trivial SEC…
(2018-10-16). Two Koreas Advance Peace Without Trump's 'Approval'. therealnews.com 
North and South Korea are moving ahead with plans to build road and rail links as part of their historic peace talks. But the U.S. is standing in the way, as Trump refuses to lift sanctions and claims that the South Koreans "do nothing without our approval." We speak to Col. Lawrence Wilkerson
(2018-10-16). New dating app for Trump supporters exposes users' data on launch day. rt.com 
Donald Daters, a new app seeking to "make America date again" and address the needs of young Republicans who feel excluded from the liberal dating scene, has reportedly leaked users' personal data immediately after the launch.
